Nobuo Sekine’s “Phase — Mother Earth” Reborn

In October 1968, Nobuo Sekine constructed Phase — Mother Earth in the Sumarikyu Park in Kobe. Consisting of a hole dug into the ground, 2.7 metres deep and 2.2 metres in diameter, with the excavated earth compacted into a cylinder of exactly the same dimensions, Phase — Mother Earth was instrumental in the early development of work by the Mono-ha artist group, and has been considered a landmark work in Japanese postwar art history. For more information on the group, read this introduction.

In conjunction with the 40th anniversary of its creation, the work has been for the “Tama Art Line Project” exhibition of outdoor artwork in Den-en Chofu Seseragi Park opposite Tamagawa station (Tokyu Toyoko Line), on display from November 1 to 9.

In 1968, Sekine and some of the other Mono-ha artists — then in their twenties — dug the work up the earth themselves, but today the work is being handled by construction workers with a digger. There is only a limited number of photographs that document the 1968 version of Phase — Mother Earth and its construction. TAB brings you a detailed photo report on the recreation of this iconic art work.